diff --git a/src/sysc/kernel/sc_object.cpp b/src/sysc/kernel/sc_object.cpp
index b1c19a0..81e8bd7 100644
--- a/src/sysc/kernel/sc_object.cpp
+++ b/src/sysc/kernel/sc_object.cpp
@@ -240,6 +240,11 @@ sc_object::sc_object() : m_parent(0)
     sc_object_init( sc_gen_unique_name("object") );
 }
 
+sc_object::sc_object( const sc_object& that ) : m_parent(0)
+{
+    sc_object_init( sc_gen_unique_name( that.basename() ) );
+}
+
 static bool
 object_name_illegal_char(char ch)
 {
diff --git a/src/sysc/kernel/sc_object.h b/src/sysc/kernel/sc_object.h
index 7614ddf..1d7c13d 100644
--- a/src/sysc/kernel/sc_object.h
+++ b/src/sysc/kernel/sc_object.h
@@ -134,6 +134,10 @@ protected:
 
     sc_object();
     sc_object(const char* nm);
+
+    sc_object( const sc_object& );
+    sc_object& operator=( const sc_object& );
+
     virtual ~sc_object();
 
 private:
@@ -152,13 +156,19 @@ private:
     std::vector<sc_object*> m_no_children; // get_child_objects() default value.
 };
 
+inline
+sc_object&
+sc_object::operator=( sc_object const & )
+{
+  // deliberately do nothing
+  return *this;
+}
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 extern const char SC_HIERARCHY_CHAR;
 extern bool sc_enable_name_checking;
 
-
 inline 
 sc_object* sc_get_parent( const sc_object* obj_p ) 
 {